Waterproofing of fabrics.



I. CUTHBERTSON, F VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CL

' wn'rnaraoorme or mim cs.

No Drawing.

5 British Columbia, Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Waterproofing of Fabrics, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improvement win the water-proofing offabric made from either animal or vegetable fiber, and the improvementis directed to the permeation of the fabric and the coating of itsindividual fibers with a Water-repelling material that .15 is adherent,flexible and enduring, and such that will leave the interstices of thefabric free to permit the passage through them ofexhalations from thepores of the body.

Acetate of aluminum is well known as having water-repellent propertiesand is commonly used in the water-proofing of fabrics, but this materialbeing brittle, in use readily breaks away from the fibers of the fabricand either falls away as a 'fine dust or is washed away when exposed toa heavy shower so that the water-proof qualities of the fabric do notlast and require renewal.

Attempts have been made to fix the acetate of aluminum to the fabric bydipping it after treatment with the acetate, into a soap solution, butwhile this treatment is to a certain extent advantageous, it is notentirely satisfactory.

The invention, which is the subject of this application, comprises thetreatment of a fabric on the fibers of which a coating of aluminumacetate has been deposited and dried, with an emulsion of certainfatsand waxes, which will combine'with' the acetate 40 of aluminum and forman insoluble metallic stearate or mineralized wax which is tough,flexible and adherent and practically impenetrable to moisture andinsoluble.

The invention also comprises thecombination of certain oils and waxes inthe production of a satisfactory emulsion, and the manner of applyingthe same by successive dippings whereby a more adherent and betterwater-repellent coating of the fibers is attained.

The particular materials and the process of treatment bywhich thisresult is attained is fully described in the following specification andis claimed generally and specifi- I cally in the appended claims. 7

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented @0139, I Application filedNovember 22,1916. Serial No. 132,860. i

The water-proofing process may be summarized as follows:

First,a fine film of a salt of a suitable metal, such as acetate ofaluminum is deposited upon the fibers of the fabric. Second,'thatcoating is impregnated with an.;

emulsion of certain fats and oils which combine With the salt of asuitable metal to form a metallic stearate or mineralized wax.

Third,the water-repellent properties of the mlneralized wax so formedare supplemented by a further light deposit of a waterrepellent salt ofa suitable metal, such as aluminum sulfate, which attacks and combineswith the stearate and waxes should there be any not acted upon by theacetate oft aluminum, and where considered necessa this last coating isfixed by application to 1t of a solution of certain waxes in a volatilemedium.

Although this summarized description may sound as if such successiveaccretions would make a considerable addition to the substance of thefabric, it must be borne in mnid that the films deposited from thesolution are infinitesimally light, and one impregnates or permeates theother, sothat the .aggregatlon does not sensibly add to the .weight ofthe fabric, nor does it make any material change in its appearance.

The several solutions by which the treatment is conducted are numbered,1, 2, 3 and 4.

Solution No. 1 from which the first coating of the water-repellent saltof a suitable base is deposited on the fibers of the fabric is a fiveper cent. solution of aluminum acetate.

Solution No. 2, by which the foregoing coating of aluminum acetate istoughened and rendered insoluble, is an emulsion of certain fats andwaxes produced by mixing the following ingredients in substantially itheproportions given andprepared as folows:

2 pounds of soap dissolved in two gallons (20 pounds) of boiling water.

1 ounce of caustic soda dissolved in 1 pint (20 ounces) of boilingwater.

8 ounces of dextrin dissolved in 2 quarts (5 pounds) of Warm water.

.30 in thesblutlon from ten to eighteen hours 'accordingto weight andthickness, etc.

The solution of soap, and the solution of caustic soda are mixed withthe melted waxes, oils and resin; the solutions being added in small.quantities while boiling, until the whole is thoroughly mixed together.

This mixture is allowed to cool to one hundred degrees-Fahrenheit andthirty gallons of water, at the same temperature, are added, thesolution of dextrin being simultaneously added slowly 'and thoroughlymixed in the emulsion as reduced. This emulsion is then strained toremove any undissolved particles and is then ready for use.

Solution No. 3 is a three per cent. solution of aluminum sulfate ateighty degrees Fahrenheit.

Solution No. t consists ofone pound and a half of ceresin melted andmixed with one pound and a half of paraflin, the melted waxes beingcarefully mixed With twelve gallons of gasolene warmed to one hundredand twelve degrees Fahrenheit.

In treating fabrics composed of animal fiber, such as woolensor silks torender them water-proof, the fabric is first thoroughly cleansed anddried.

It is then immersed in solution No. 1 at a temperature of from seventyto eighty degrees Fahrenheit and is allowed to remain When removed fromthe solution it is centrifuged lightly and dried at from one hundred andforty-five to one hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit, preferably withcirculation of air. I

The fabric is then immersed for from five to ten minutes in solution No.2, with thorough agitation, and after removal from the solution islightly centrifuged and partially dried.

It is then immersed in solution N0. 3'at eighty degrees Fahrenheit andafter removal is copiously rinsed in warm fresh water, is centrifugedand dried in a temperature of from one hundred and fifty to one hundredand sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

It is then immersed and vigorously agitated for ten minutes in solutionNo. 4 and is centrifuged and dried at from one hundred and thirty to onehundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit and may be pressed hot.

A fabric made of vegetable fiber, such cotton, is first thoroughlycleansed and dried and is immersed for from three to five hours withfrequent agitation in solu tion No. 1 at from seventy to eighty degreesnaaaaa'z The fabric is then centrifuged and dried and is redipped insolution N0. 2.

After the moisture is drained from it, .it is redipped in solution No.3.

The fabric is then rinsed well in warm water and is dried at atemperature of from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and sixtydegrees Fahrenheit, or is calendered between hot rollers.

Fabrics so treated have thorough waterproof qualities which are notimpaired by wear, and the material may be either wet or dry cleanedwithout detriment to its waterproof character. in its texture andappearance and retains its porosity.

The fabric is unchanged I am aware that acetateof aluminum hasheretofore been used per se, and in conjunction with other materials forwater-proofing fabrics, and that alum has also been simlv larly used,but believe that the application of the compounds in the proportions andhaving water-repellent properties, and the. permeation of the materialof this film with an emulsion of wax.

2. A fabric water-proofing treatment, comprising the deposit on theindividual" fibers of the fabric of a fine film of a salt of a suitablemetal having water-repellent properties and the permeation of thematerial of the film with an emulsion of wax that will combine with thesalt of a suitable metal and form a mineralized wax.

3. A fabric water-proofing treatment, comprising the deposit on theindividual fibers of the fabric of successive films of acetate ofaluminum and an emulsion of wax.

4. A fabric water-proofing treatment, comprising the deposit on theindividual fibers of the fabric of a fine film of acetate of aluminumand the conversion of that acetate of aluminum into mineralized wax byimpregnation of it with an emulsion of vegetable and mineral waxes.

5. A fabric water-proofing treatment, comprising the deposit on theindividual fibers of the fabric of a fine film of a salt of a suitablemetal having water-repellent properties and the permeation of thematerial of the film with an emulsion of wax, oil and resin that willcombine with the acetate of aluminum and form a mineralized wax.

6. A fabric water-proofing treatment, comprising the deposit on theindividual fibers of the fabric of a fine film of a salt of a suitablemetal having water-repellent properties and the permeation of that filmwith an emulsion of soap, linseed oil, yellow wax,

ceresin, resin, gasolene and caustic soda.

7. A fabric water-proofing treatment, comprising the deposit on theindividual fibers of the fabric of a fine film of a salt of a suitablemetal having water-repellent' properties and the permeation of that withan emulsion of soap, dextrin, raw linseed oil, yellow wax, ceresin,resin, gasolene and canstic soda.

8. A process of treating fabric to render the same water-proof whichcomprises depositing a fihn of a salt of a suitable metal on the fibersof the fabric, second acting on the same with an emulsion to convert thesame into mineralized wax, third depositing on the film of mineralizedwax a film of the water-repellant salt of a suitable metal.

9. The process of waterroofing fabric which includes treating the fabricto a bath of a solution of aluminum acetate and after draining anddrying subjecting it to a bath of an emulsion of wax.

10. The process of water-proofing fabric which comprises immersing thefabric in a solution of aluminum acetate and after draining and dryingthe fabric immersing it in a water-diluted emulsion of wax and oil, andafter partial drying immersing it in a solution of aluminum sulfate.

12. The process of waterproofing fabric which comprises immersing thefabric in a solution of aluminum acetate and after drying immersing itin a water diluted emulsion of wax and oil, then after partial dryingimmersing the fabric in a solution of aluminum sulfate and after copiousrinsing and drying immersing it in a solution ,of Waxes in a volatilemedium.

In testimony whereof I aflix m si ature;

ETHEL I. CUTHB R SON.

